Unfortunately cynicism has become prevalent. Civil conversation has been replaced by demeaning commentary on social media. Anger has displaced discourse. Argument ad hominem have displaced reasoned debate. Washington, D.C., is at the apogee of this malaise. Hunts by bloodthirsty prosecutors who realized that all but the very wealthy cannot afford to defend themselves against contrived charges are rules of engagement. Respect for our Constitution and the laws that governed have been shunted to the side. The covenants that bind our country have become frayed.

Turning to specifics, we have two prime examples. The state of Oregon, under the leadership of our governor has, de facto, caused its secession from the Union. The examples are our marijuana and our sanctuary state laws.

No one can seriously debate that the federal law is paramount on matters relating to immigration. Every court to consider the issue agrees. Second, even the Oregon Supreme Court has squarely held that federal law is paramount with respect to marijuana use and production. Interestingly even the preamble to the Oregon statue states that the Federal laws and

Constitution are to be obeyed, but later expressly directs three agencies to ignore the federal law. The arrogance of this statement is mind boggling.

Our governor, the attorney general, and every county commissioner took an oath of office when sworn into office. The oath explicitly requires these officials to obey the U.S. laws and Constitution. While federal employees commit a crime by violating their oath of office, there is no parallel provision in the law of Oregon.

Why do our elected officials violate their oath? In part, the Democratic party-elected representatives believe that those unlawfully in our country will blindly cast their ballots for them, thus sustaining them in office. As to marijuana, it is not the tax revenues derived, because they are modest. It cannot be a scientifically based view that ingestion of marijuana promotes the health of our citizens as this is belied by the Centers for Disease Control, the American Colleges of Pediatricians and OB–GYN studies and reports.

By process of elimination, follow the money. Isn’t it logical that political contributions from the marijuana industry is a reasonable conclusion? Why is it that our governor pleads for money from the federal government to support Medicaid, fire suppression, etc., because it is one of 50 United States, but ignores it on these issues. Follow the money!

So, what do we do? Demand the following from our legislators: First, enact laws that make it a criminal offense for any public employee to knowingly violate their oath of office; second, make it a crime for our public officials to accept contributions derived, in whole or in part, from companies or individuals who have committed state or federal crimes.

— Tom Triplett lives in Bend.